When it comes to building your email list there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. Building your mailing list the wrong way can often times result in disastrous negative effects you won't even see. Neither will your subscribers if you don't build your list the right way.
Having a large e-mail list can be a invaluable marketing tool. It seems like every blogger, business and band now has a mailing list they want you to sign up for. It can be a great tool to stay in contact with past customers and to share information or drive sales.
The Wrong Way To Build Your Email List:
I recently attended a business conference in Atlanta where the speaker suggested that take email addresses from each business card you get and add those people to your email list. You might be thinking this is a great idea and a quick way to build up your subscribers. In actuality the practice is in violation of most popular email newsletter services such as Constant Contact and Mail Chimp. Also people don't enjoy unsolicited newsletters that they know they didn't sign up for. Instead of even opening your newsletter no matter how valuable the content, many users simply click "report spam". If enough users click the "report spam" button then your emails will start getting caught in spam filters, never reaching the inbox of your subscriber.
Recently a friends band started their email list. They took every email address from every possible contact list and added them to the list. How do I know? Because I got 3 copies sent to 3 different email addresses I'd used to contact them over time. I would have gladly signed up for the email list in exchange for a free song or concert updates. Instead I felt spammed and that the band had misused my email address. Not a good relationship building method!
The Right Way To Build Your Email List:
The correct way is to ask someone before adding them to your email list. Mention the value of your newsletters content then say you would like to add them to your subscribers if they don't mind. Most people will say yes resulting in more real views from your subscribers. What good is adding 100 addresses off each business card only to have nobody read it? Having permission to add someones email to your list will also keep you compliant with strict anti-spam policies that all email providers must adhere to.
The absolute best way to build your email newsletter is to have value. Every newsletter should be a short and interesting read. While you should use it to highlight your business, you should also make it personable. There are many email newsletters I read as soon as I see them in my inbox not for sales but because of how interesting the content is. Tell a funny story about something that happened at the office. Include pictures and video if you can. Don't write in the dry corporate sales tone, keep it fresh and conversational. You'll still be able to sprinkle in enough specials, coupons and discounts to help grow your business while engaging people in an relationship building fashion.
Getting lots of addresses in your newsletter subscribers can feel good and should if done the right way. Building your email list the wrong way will result in less views, increased chance of getting your accounts in violation and your newsletter never getting read at all. Networking should be about building relationships and providing value. Consider the value and quality of your email newsletter as the starting point of any campaign. Hopefully these tips are of value to those looking to increase your newsletter subscribers.